Automatic timing valve



C. S. HAND AUTOMATIC TIMING VALVE Filed Dec. 6, 1929 June 7, 1932.

Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT, OFFICE CLARENCE S. HAND, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED EN- GINEERS &CONSTRUCTORS IN 0., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPOBA- 'I'ION OFDELAWARE AUTOMATIC TIMING VALVE Application filed December 6, 1929.Serial No. 412,108.

The present invention relates to valve control. The object of theinvention is to provide new and improved apparatus whereby a valve in afluid passage way can be quickly opened and by means of which the valvewill be automatically closed at the end of a predetermined period oftime. The apparatus also includes means by which the length of the abovementioned period of time may be varied at will.

Among the uses of such apparatus may be mentioned the control of valvesin water lines to sprays for the cooling of hot coke from ovens orretorts. In such coke cooling it is not desirable to spray more wateronto the coke than is necessary to prevent its combustion. The cokearrives under the sprays at a fairly uniform temperature, and for acertain quantity of coke the desirable minimum of cooling water can bedetermined. l Vith a supply of cooling water at a uniform pressure, thevalve in the water line to the sprays should be open a definite anddeterminable period of time to supply the desired quantity of coolingwater per unit of hot coke.

According to present practice the valve is opened by an operator, andclosed by him at the end of the spraying operation. This requires hisconstant attendance and his close attention to assure that the period ofvalve opening is neither too long or too short. If he is called away orhis attention distracted, too much water is likely to be used.

The apparatus of the present invention antomatically closes the valve atthe predetermined time, obviating the necessity of the operatorsattention and relieving him for other duties.

The invention will be more particularly -described in connection withthe attached as 2, through the header 3. 4 is a valve in the fluid way,preferably of the balanced globe type. 5 is the valve stem to which isattached,

(in the illustration by the set screw 6) the member 7, which forms acontinuation of the .valve stem. The member 7 slides on the guides 8,which form the support of the hydraulic operating cylinder 9. The piston10 of the cylinder is attached to the piston rod 11, which extendsthrough an opening. in the end of the member 7 away from the valve stem5, and preferably slides therein. The rod 11 terminates at its end awayfrom the piston in the head 12, preferably attached to it, by the setscrew 13. Between the member 7 and the bonnet ofthe valve 4, areprovided the springs 14.

The hydraulic cylinder 9 is provided with the operatlng fluid lines 15and 16 which alternately serve as inlet and outlet means, and which areconnected through the four way valve 17 so that they may be connected tothe inlet pipe 18, leading from a supply of fluid under pressure, or theoutlet pipe 19 by turning the four way valve by the lever 20. 21 1s astrainer in the inlet pipe.

The fluid line 15 is provided with a check valve 22, arranged to permitflow therethrough toward the hydraulic cylinder but not in the oppositedirection. There is also provided the by-pass connection 23, around thecheck valve 22 and which is provided with the adjustable needle valve24.

In operation, assuming the valve 4 is closed, the operator turns thelever 20, so as to connect inlet pipe 18 with line 15, and outlet pipe19 with line 16, fluid under pressure flows through the line 15, thecheck valve 22 opening to permit full flow. The piston is quickly forcedupward, the cylinder exhausting through the unimpeded line 16, the valve17 and pipe 19. The valve 4 has been previously held shut by thepressure of the head 12 of the piston rod 11 on the end of the valvestem 5, with the springs 14 compressed.

The piston rises quickly, as described above, andthe springs push upwardon the bottom of the member 7, but preferably are not strong enough tolift the valve. Toward the end of the travel of the piston the head 12engages the member 7 and lifts it, opening the valve 4 to the desiredextent. A stop 25 may be provided to terminate the valve opening.

The operation has now reached the point illustrated in the drawing.

Instead of staying in attendance until it is time for valve 4 to beclosed, the operator throws the lever 20, so as to connect line 15 withoutlet pipe 19 and line 16 with inlet pipe 18. The valve 4: will beautomatically closed at the end of a predetermined time and requires nofurther attention by the operator.

The fluid pressure through line 16 is admitted above the piston; but thecheck valve 22 in line 15 closes and-the exhaust from the cylinder mustpass through the by-pass connection 23 and the needle valve 24. Theneedle valve has been adjusted to permit the exhaust at a predeterminedrate, and the piston with its rod moves down slowly. The head 12 passesdown between the sides of the member 7, the valve 4 remains open, heldthus'by the springs 14, until the head 12 engages the upper surface ofthe base of the member 7 (or the end of the stem if it extends throughthe base of the member 7.) After the above engagement further travel ofthe piston compresses the springs and closes the valve. The valve isheld shut by the fluid-pressure above the piston. I With a supply offluid at substantially uniform pressure for operating the hydrauliccylinder, it will be obvious from the above that the piston will movedownward at a substantially uniform rate, depending on the setting ofthe needle valve in the check valve by-pass, until it begins to actuatethe valve 4. Its rate of travel will then be slightly decreased due tothe resistance of the springs.

The command for the closing action may be initiated as soon as the valvehas been mounted on said valve, a stem in said valve, a member mountedon said stem and guided by said guide rods, pair of. springs on saidguide ro s between said valve and said member, a piston, an adjustablestop for said member mounted on said guide rods, a connection betweensaid piston and said member, a cylinder cooperating with said piston, ameans for supplying pressure, a means for permitting exhaust ofpressure, a control valve connected to said pressure supply means andsaid exhaust means, an unobstructed connection between said controlvalve and said cylinder on one side of said piston, and a connectionbetween said control valve and said cylinder on the other side of saidpiston including a check valve and a bypass around said check valveincluding a valve.

- CLARENCE S. HAND.

opened and the closure automatically efiected at the end of apredetermined period, with the passage of a predetermined quantity offluid through valve 4, assuming a supply of fluid at substantiallyconstant pressure.

I claim: I

1. An automatic timing valve including, in combination, a valve, a pairof guide rods mounted on said valve, a stem in said valve, a membermounted on said stem and guided by said guide rods, a piston, aconnection between said piston and said member adapted to afiford thepiston a range of movement in respect to the member, a cylindercooperating with saidpiston, a means for supplying pressure, a means forpermitting exhaust of pressure, a control valve connected to saidpressure supply means and said exhaust means, an unobstructed connectionbetween said control valve and said cylinder on one side of said piston,and a connection between

